Will a suspended official be the next PNP chief?

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday assured the public that President Benigno Aquino III would choose the person who truly deserves to be the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

“Isinasaalang-alang ni Pangulong Aquino ang lahat ng importanteng kwalipikasyon at isinasaalang-alang din ‘yung kahalagahan ng tamang pagpili sa hihirangin na PNP chief,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., said in a press briefing.

(President Aquino is taking into consideration all the important qualifications and the need to choose the right person for the PNP chief position.)

Among the so-called contenders for the post is Chief. Supt. Raul Petrasanta, who was suspended by the Ombudsman over missing 1,004 high-powered firearms. The weapons were allegedly sold to the New People’s Army.

READ: Ombudsman suspends PNP officials over missing firearms

Petrasanta, along with former PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and other officials, was also suspended for their involvement in an alleged anomalous transaction with a courtier service. At that time, he was the head of the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office.

READ: Ombudsman suspends PNP chief Purisima over courier contract

But Coloma pointed out that there are particularities to each case. He said being placed under preventive suspension is not considered a penalty because it is just “preventive in nature.”

“Sabihin na lang natin na lahat ng mga konsiderasyon na ‘yan ay isinasaalang-alang din sa pagsasagawa ng desisyon dahil kinakailangang ang hihirangin ay mayroon ding kredibilidad sa mata ng publiko,” he explained.

(Let’s just say that all considerations are being accounted for in the decision-making process because we also need to choose someone who has credibility.)

The suspended regional director of the Central Luzon Police has been called “PNP chief in waiting” because of his close ties with the Aquino family. At one point, he headed the Presidential Security Group unit assigned to the Aquino residence on Times Street in Quezon City.

READ: Who will get Aquino’s nod as new PNP chief?

More than four months after Purisima resigned, Aquino has yet to appoint a new PNP chief.

Both Purisima and Aquino have been blamed for the Mamasapano operation, which left 44 policemen dead. Critics claimed that the President had been defending Purisima because of their friendship.

Despite the long wait, Coloma said Aquino was well aware of the “sense of urgency” because of the importance of the PNP chief position. AC